There was a great multitude that none could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the lamb

Matthew 28: 16-20
“ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus has told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age”

“Do you love the Lord’s appearing? Then you will bend every effort to take the gospel into the entire world. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This is the Good News of the Kingdom. Christ has wrested authority from Satan. The Kingdom of God has attacked the kingdom of Satan; this evil Age has been assaulted by the age to come in the person of Christ. All authority is now His. He will not display this authority in its final glorious victory until He comes again, but the authority is now His. Satan is defeated and bound; death is conquered; sin is broken. All authority is His. His is the Kingdom; He reigns in heaven, and He manifests His reign on earth in and through His Church. To us is given not only to wait for but also to hasten the coming of the day of God (2Peter 3:12). This is the mission of the gospel of the Kingdom and this is our mission.”
“The Gospel of the Kingdom”
-George Eldon Ladd

"Pay attention to the call of God in your everyday life-and then follow it. Because it is here that we can begin to change the world"

Here is my friend who I spent a good amount of time with, he lived and worked where we were staying, we had good convesations about Jesus, and stated that he believed in Jesus. "Father please draw him closer to your Son Jesus, and may you bring other believers into his life to disciple him and may he be a blessing among the Turkish Cypriots, Amen"

Picture of Ethan, and the Kane kids

"God, what is man's best gift to mankind? To be beautiful of soul and then let people see into your soul."
-Frank Laubach

My Amazing and Beautiful wife who loves Jesus and is such a huge support for me and our son in whom we are well pleased

This is a picture of the Stewart family, the Kane Family and the Thurman family

Coming into our time in Cyprus, one of the things we were sure of was that God was doing something very important in the lives of our families. God was placing similar convictions for ministry--We believe that God is going to continue to knit us together and allow us to serve together in the future in multiple new works that are being woven together by the Spirit of God.

Some of the community gathering to pray for Reed (one of Warren and Julie's five boys) who was sick

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common…46 And day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number…”

This brief story exemplifies the type of community God gave us this past month. Dan and Kim have three children under the age of 5 years old. Their second child, who is 2, fell off the chair and cut her head open around 6am on morning. Dan was standing on my porch which was about 200 yards away from his apartment. When the baby fell Kim yelled for help Ryan, who was right next door came to her. He then ran to my place to get Dan ran back to his place. I called for Humberto who speaks Turkish he was out of his apartment in less than 3 minutes. He then picked up Dan, Kim and the baby and they were off to the hospital then Julie and I began to pray. All of this took place in under 15 minutes. The baby actually got to the hospital, got stitches and was home in less than two hours. What a powerful example of community living.

The Central Asian team along with a group of Turks who were working with them

It was such a joy to co-labor with the Central Asian team. We were told by their leader that this is the first time that they have co-labored with more than just Americans. We were told over and over again by different international team leaders that we are making history. The central Asian team had many opportunites to meet with students on the different campuses and share Jesus, one funny story is that they met up with four practicing Muslim women on one of the university campuses. While talking with the Muslim girls one of the Central Asian girls who understood Turkish heard the Muslim girls say that “this is a great opportunity to tell them about Islam.” So, the Muslim girls invited the Central Asian girls to dinner. As they talked they began to open the Bible eventually the Central Asian girls gave the Muslim girls a copy of the Jesus Film. They watched it then they planned to meet again to talk further about Jesus.

Turks from Adana

With the Turks from Istanbul, the Turks from Adana and the Central Asians the internationals far out numbered the N. Americans, (we had two Canadian with us) The Turks from Adana were so amazing to be around. You could tell from a mile away that they loved God. I could serve with these men and women the rest of my life. They were rich blessing to us all. They prayed faithfully the entire project. They had many opportunities to share their faith, but they prayed like crazy. They prayed around mosques, they prayed at the major city gate. They prayed on the mountain, they prayed in four different cities. They prayed with believers, they prayed for laborers, and they prayed for healing. They were an amazing group and we trust that the Lord is giving them a greater vision for their role in N. Cyprus.

This brother from Turkey was an amazing evangelist

His pastor from Turkey was telling a story about this young brother from Adana, Turkey. This brother was in a coffee shop meeting people and sharing about Jesus, a Turkish young man came up to him, seeing a bible laying on the table, and asked if he was distributing bibles. He said No, with a big grin on his face, and continued it is my bible, but if you would like it I will give it to you!

This is the sister from Adana Turkey from one of the 24x7 stories

24x7 Prayer

what is 24x7 Prayer! it is something that God has been doing for a long time among his people-something he seems to be renewing today all around the world. Where believers are gathering in specific places to wait upon the Lord. Where people take turns praying in a specific location/room--God begins meeting with his people constantly. What begins to happen is that God in a unique way begins to lead and speak to that community about the things of His heart. In Cyprus we experienced this first hand!

"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. you who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth"--Isaiah 62:6-7

Here are two short stories that give a little sample of how God blessed our prayer around the clock in N. Cyprus. Besides the inner work that he did as each of us met with him during our hour watch

A brother from Turkey was praying up near the front of Sunny beach during his one hour slot late in the evening. A young man who lived and worked on the property approached him. He asked him what he was doing—when this brother told them that he was praying, the young man said that they had heard that our group was praying around the clock—He was astonished to hear that we have all come all this way just to pray for his people. From that time on for the next two hours this brother from Turkey got a chance to share the message of God’s love and forgiveness. That is not the end of the story. The next day as he was sharing this story with all of us, three other people from three different groups said that they too had a chance to talk to either this same young man or a member of his family.



This last week we had a team of 6 Turks from Istanbul join us; though they were only here for one week we feel they assimilated into the system quite well. They immediately signed up for the 24-7 prayer time just like everyone else. The team leader, a sister from Turkey, was praying at 11pm on the grounds of our facility. While she was praying a 16 year old Turkish Cypriot boy that our family knows well from last year, came up to her and asked what she was doing. She told him that she was praying for the Turkish people of N. Cyprus. He was so shocked by this that he began to ask many questions. She shared with this young man and he told her that he understood what she was saying and that he wanted to invite Jesus into his life. So, she and the young man prayed right then. The amazing thing was that she had been praying earlier that day that God would bring people into her path that God was drawing to Himself.

A beautiful old Monastery where we spent 3 hours of solitude

Dan, Warren, I had our solitude time from four to seven in the morning so that our wives could have three hours after us at the same place, it was wonderful to be at such a beautiful place with such a rich history. Two of the three weeks we incorporated half days of solitude. It was a rich time that continued to teach us the importance of being with Jesus so we can hear Jesus speak to us, so that we can
obey Jesus!

It is not physical solitude that actually separates one from others; not physical isolation, but spiritual isolation. It is not the desert island nor the stony wilderness that cuts you from the people you love. It is the wilderness in the mind, the desert wastes in the heart through which one wanders lost and a stranger. When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others. How often in a large city, shaking hands with my friends, I have felt the wilderness stretching between us. Both of us were wandering in arid wastes, having lost the springs that nourished us - or having found them dry. Only when one is connected to one's own core is one connected to others, I am beginning to discover. And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can best be refound through solitude.

The Central Asia Team and Turks from Istanbul seeking the Lord

After the police inspectors came out during the first week, we were no longer able to meet in large groups for prayer and worship. So after our group meditation on specific Scripture in the mornings, we would meet together in our smaller teams that were going out to do ministry in the afternoons and evenings. During this time in the morning the groups would pray and worship again seeking guidance from the Lord, what He would have for us that day.

The Lynchburg Team

You probably know that this Lynchburg team is a group of people that I’ve been investing in over the past year or so. It has been so fun working with these men and women. However, I regret that I hardly saw them this past month. The good news is that they rose to the occasion. They handled themselves like cross-cultural veterans. They sought the Lord on all issues ranging from team unity and conflict resolution to direction and focus. I think I was most impressed with their willingness to stay focused on a couple of guys that they met early in the project. These guys did not come to faith, but they’ve been deeply influenced for the Kingdom by the men and women from Lynchburg. I’m certain that this cross-cultural friendship with continue and if they “do not growing weary in doing good they will reap a harvest if they don’t give up…
(written by Warren Stewart who leads this team back in VA)

meeting outside in God's beauty

A brother from Mexico planting churches in Turkey who led the team from Adana, Turkey

The Turkey team

this brother is the team leader of the Turkish team, has planted two churches in Turkey. The church that he is pastoring presently has sent him and two leaders to participate in the prayer days. This brother and his family will stay for the month of July, but he will have team members come and go through out the month. His team is so loved by everyone; that have such a great family and the have an incredible love for God. They did not have to go far to have an impact. God arranged that both of their bungalow neighbors were Turks from Cyprus. This brother and his family have been spending enough time with both families that his family has been invited to come to their homes. They have shared their faith many times with both families and one of the families has asked for a Turkish Bible.

"she never left the temple but worshiped night and day waiting for the child who would redeem the world"

This woman was faithfully ministering in the place of God, this picture was taken at a 5th century monastery, it is the only place on the North side (that I know of) where greeks are living, this woman and another older man keep the monastery in order. When we were there visiting I recognized a face that had seen much, and a character that had been tested by years of trials, but she was faithful in the "house" of her God.

"Prayer reenter history with incalcuable effects. Our earth is shaken daily by it"

a beutiful picture of the Karpas Peninsula region of Cyprus

I Peter 1 22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

The beautiful scenery of Cyprus

Isaiah 30 15
This is what the Sovereign Lord says, 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quiteness and trust is your strength'

two young cypriots hanging about

Prayer for Cyprus

Song of Praise to the Lord
Isaiah 42:10-16

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you Cyprus and all who live there. Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices…let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in Cyprus…(16), I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame

A beautiful old church

Isaiah 58 12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations, you will be called Repairers of Broken Walls, Restorers of Streets with Dwellings

hundreds of wild donkeys that run wild along the peninsula

Choosing Christ means walking on the road not on two roads at the same time. Those who want to follow Christ and to follow themselves at the same time end up following their own shadow, in pursuit of reputation or prestige
-Brother Roger

Testimony to a Turkish Cypriot coming to Christ

I want to share a huge praise that we feel blessed to be able to witness it and feel like our prayers here in Cyprus were instrumental to this miracle. The miracle is one that happens daily around the world “an individual being rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God’s Son” (Col. 1:13) There is an awesome story behind this. This brother who is working with another YWAM team here in N. Cyprus has been here for two years. He told me just moments ago that in the two weeks since we have been praying here in Cyprus that he has had more spiritual and meaningful conversations with Turkish Cypriots then any other time in the two years he has been here. This brother had just returned from the states just before we arrived. One of the young Cypriots he had been sharing his life with, for the past year, we will call him “john” pulled him aside as he was walking through town and began pouring out his heart to him. This brother still in Western mindset felt rushed to get to the next thing he had going and did not give “john” much time. A few days later “John” called him desperate to talk to him, so he went to meet him, during there time “John” shared that his girlfriend had just broken up with him and that he was considering suicide. He said that he would pray for him and encouraged him to pray to Jesus in his time of need. Two days later “John” called him to ask if he had prayed for him, he said yes, “I prayed that Jesus would bring you peace and contentment in him or bring your girlfriend back.” “John” exclaimed I did pray to Jesus as well and he answered both of those prayers, he said, “I was able to communicate with my girlfriend and told her that he truly had found peace in his heart whether they were together or not, she decided to return to me that next day.” “John” since then has asked for a Bible and stated that after praying and beginning to seek Jesus that he felt like it was his Birthday. The brother from YWAM believes that the Holy Spirit is doing the work of “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Please continue to pray for this young man and for the Long-term workers here in N. Cyprus (which only consist of this brother and another family).

Please pray for more workers for the Harvest here in N. Cyprus.

destroyed church from the Greek and Turk fighting

This is a photo of a church that now is on the Turkish side of the green zone in Lefosa/Nicosia, you can see that it was partially destroyed during the conflict and now sits unused

UN post along the green zone

This photograph is of the U.N. tower in Lefkosa/Nicosia it is the only remaining divided capital in the world. The UN drew a green line across the map of Cyprus dividing the Greek Cyprus, with Turkish Cyprus. It is called the green zone where the UN is stationed, it reminded me a little of the divided city of Mostar in Bosnia where the Catholics are divided by Nretva river from the Muslims in that city. In this green zone you could feel the heaviness of oppression and could see the visible scars of war and violence.

God is giving me a growing sense that he wants us to become a part of seeking peace for this island.

One of the things that I’ve been praying for years is that God would fit my feet with the “Gospel of Peace.” I never knew gave much thought how God would answer this prayer. Since being involved in N. Cyprus I sense that there is a huge reconciliation work God wants to do here. Now, I’m not saying I have any idea of what that would look like, but I want to begin to explore options. Please pray that God would give me more clarity as to how we might be able to pray for peace and how we might be able to contribute to peace. (This was written by Warren our fearless leader who is now in South Cyprus researching where a second work in the south could be launched for next summer that would serve as a bridge betweem the Turks and Greeks that would work for peace and reconciliation to come forth through the Jesus)

Psalm 85:10 "Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other"

The Thomas Terrace group from VÄ

The Thomas Terrace team has been such a rich blessing to us all. One of the guys from the team has made a life long friendship with one of the owners of Sunny Beach. Through this friendship the Thomas Terrace team has been able to clearly share the Gospel with him and to have many ongoing follow-up conversations with him. They have also spent significant time with the family that is responsible for the maintenance of Sunny Beach. Last night they shared with this family and each member of the family acknowledged that they understand that God loves them and that Jesus is more than just a prophet. There will need to be many more conversations, but this was a huge step towards following Jesus.

The Morning Prayer Time

The Morning Prayer and small group meditation continued to be a powerful time. God spoke to each of us through His word in a fresh way. During the last two weeks we added a day of solitude and processing which also assisted us in our hearing God more clearly through the weeks. In each of the groups we had people who sensed the Lord lead them to do something or to speak to someone and once they obeyed they had wonderful opportunities to share their faith, or to minister to someone’s need or to serve someone in other way.

Ethan, Nols and I prayer walking at a university proclaiming God's Word

Deut. 11 24
Every place where you set your foot will be yours

Ethan did a great job at helping us meet a waiter by running off with his oranges

This sister from Kazakhstan was a blessing to Nols and I

Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides, and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discoverd fire
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

This brother from Kenya led us in a powerful song, about who will stand in this land for our God

Jeremiah 9 23,24
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord

The Holy Spirit leading us in worship

What does it mean to be Christ-like, to walk in His steps, to do the things Jesus did? When we hear these exhortations we tend to focus on the times when Jesus was 'on the spot'-healing, forgiving, enduring suffering with grace, casting out demons, etc. The result is we try to manufacture these same feats or to live out his commands, sermon on the mount for example but are unable. Why is this? Because we forget that when we are called to walk with Jesus that it means to incorporate into our lives the same spiritual disciplines that Jesus did--prayer, solitude, fasting, worship, etc. And by these disciplines our souls will be transformed and the Spirit of God will work in us to create not only the desire, but also the power to truly do the things Jesus dis and even greater.
-Dallas Willard

This brother from Kazakhstan led the Central Asian team

Romans 8:26-27
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the heart knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people according to the will of God”


“Friends, some questions about prayer may arise in your mind as you have begun to sense the Truth, or have been touched by the Truth from God’s Holy Spirit. Since you have operated for so long from a fleshly mind and ungodly nature and not in the leading of the Spirit, you may have some doubts about the practice of prayer. The promise of God concerning prayer (that is the certainty of prayer being answered) is referring to the kind of prayer that is in faith and to the Holy Spirit. It is not, however, dealing with the prayers that come from the flesh or will or human wisdom. We must not pray in a way that lacks life and that lacks God’s Spirit. True prayer is not in the time, in the will, or in the power of the person praying. Rather, it I s a gift of God that resides in his Spirit. It is not ours, but it is given to us. Therefore, it is ours to wait upon the Spirit, to wait for the Spirit to move and breathe in us, and to give us the power of prevailing with the Father in the name and through the life of the Son.
“Letters on Spiritual Virtues”
By Isaac Penington

Julie Stewart's mom and Julie's son Hudson

most powerful Holy Spirit
come Down
upon us
and subdue us

from Heaven
where the ordinary
is made glorious
and glory seems
but ordinary

bathe us
with your brilliance
of Your light
like dew

Warren our fearless leader and others establishing the altar of God through worship